State Police rabbi’s $100k job under scrutiny

NEW YORK — Behind the wheel of his dark-colored SUV, Bernard Freilich could pass for a cop.

In fact, people close to Freilich say at times he’s presented himself as one.

His black GMC is equipped with flashing emergency lights, a police radio, siren, a State Police placard on the dashboard and special license plates that say “official.”

In his pocket Freilich carries a State Police employee-identification card, and occasionally he wears a gold State Police badge on a lanyard that hangs from his neck. But where he got the badge is anyone’s guess.

Freilich is not a police officer. He’s a rabbi paid $100,730 annually as a politically appointed State Police “special assistant,” a job he’s had since Gov. George Pataki gave him the title in March 1995. Freilich’s job, in part, is to serve as a “community liaison” to the Hasidic Jewish community, according to a job description on file with State Police.

But in a period of government austerity some are questioning whether Freilich, 59, is a necessary asset to the State Police. Meanwhile, in a Brooklyn neighborhood where Freilich lives, his police-like credentials have sparked allegations he parks illegally and harassed motorists who believed he was a cop.

Since being appointed during Pataki’s inaugural year, Freilich has held his job through the administrations of Eliot Spitzer and David Paterson, and now Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo’s father, Mario, first assigned a rabbi to the State Police payroll, but Andrew Cuomo has pledged to stem unnecessary hiring. Some former troopers said Freilich’s job should get a hard look.

“He shows up, but it’s really just to keep people from saying he isn’t around,” said State Police Lt. Keith Forte, who retired from the agency last August after a 25-year career. “This guy’s sole purpose is to put forth a face for the Jewish community, and he has no real purpose with the State Police.”

43 Responses

What I find additionally interesting is that in one of the SUV photos, there is an orange EZ Pass in the windshield…only NYSTA employees or official vehicles (like State Police) are issued non-revenue orange ez passes.

“He basically acts like a trooper”? He basically commits a felony then. This is the height of hypocrisy within state government. Stop giving these 7500 people their own little world to live in and let them abide by the laws of the state of New York. Buying votes, it’s what it always been about and will continue to be about. This man should be behind bars. What’s more amazing is that it took the Times Union to uncover this. This guy has parked his car in every no parking zone and has been photographed by almost everyone. Where was the NY Times? The Daily News? The NY Post? What about that investigator with the department of health who was in every one of those papers for abusing his parking placard? My god, at least he was a cop, not that it makes any real difference. His case warranted a scathing report from the Inspector General. Will this one? If this Governor and the new I.G. wish to get off on the right foot then they should step out now. It’s not to late but any failure to act will just prove that at the end of the day, 7500 votes are still 7500 votes and they’re available to the highest bidder.

“In Brooklyn, where Freilich is widely known, he double-parks his vehicle, blocks fire hydrants, leaves the vehicle sitting in bus stops while shopping and sometimes parks in curbside areas that prohibit even standing vehicles, according to photographs shared with the Times Union.”

Nice catch Ez Info,…this smacks every hard working tax payer right in the face. Regardless of where in NYS you live, what religion you are, or whether you are Democrat or Republican….From the 100k salary, to the ez pass, to the emergency light, to the office space,….I would loove to see the “true cost” of this. I wonder, NYSP use gas cards to gas up,…does the fine Rabbi have a gas card as well??

this article does not look like real journalism cuz the copmlaining side only have anonymous sources, and as the article ends “if you’re going to have religious representation to a state agency then you need to be inclusive, rotate the position” “rotate the position” that’s the whole story here, someone wants his position, so he got the “times union” to write an article against Freilich.

Second, I do think that all communities, Black, Hispanic etc. etc. have a form of representation in the State, actualy they have quite alot, Freilich is actually the only official representation Hasidic Jews have in the state and with the Governor, don’t u think it’s fair?

AHHH serioulsy Joshua?? You have to be kidding right? Representation in Government?? This gut is doing work for one Village in Orange County – Kiryas Joel. Not representing Hasidic Jews across the State. Last I knew Kiryas Joel is part of Orange County,..who elect representatives for State Government like everyone else. So basically what you are saying is, since Kiryas Joel does not have the majority of votes in Orange County they deserve to have a paid “special rep”???
Most Law Enforcement/Public Saftey agencies (Federal and Local) have rabbis and priests as counselors in crisis – they do that work for free – as a community service.
The NYSP just happens to foot this bill….I am sure if asked anyone in the NYSP would say the rabbi’s position is a joke!

Actually Josh, I thought this was one of the better investigative pieces I have ever read in the TU. The issue is real, the reporter had significant backup (facts, figures), had people speak on the record who have direct knowledge of the facts…

Now the question is will someone do something about it? Times should be be a-changing just for the unions, but for all interest groups who have squeezed the pols who were too gutless to say “Enough!”..

If I am recalling correctly, Kiryas Joel received special consideration for a number of things back in the days of the Pataki administration; it was like an untouchable community as I recall; I think there was some sort of dust-up with the State School Boards Association (but don’t hold me to that). But this just takes the notion of “special consideration” way too far. As Elmer says–is anyone in the Gov’s office or the SP going to say “enough” to this ridiculous use of taxpayer dollars?

May I humbly offer to represent the fine people of Ireland? No badge, firearm, EZ Pass required. Just please issue me one of those sweet Chevy Tahoes and a gas card. Keep the lights, I need room for the ski rack.

Josh is probably an Albany cop who doesn’t like Brendon Lyons. Wah Wah Wah…. stop your crying. Read the article and if you don’t understand it then do something you can understand….. look at the pictures. Even you can look at pictures.

#15 % 16–agreed– we don’t need to be paying any religious guy a $100k
on the SP dime. We’ve paid this one guy over a million bucks since he started.Most real SP don’t make a $100k a year.As to him passing himself off as a cop–if he goes away the charges for that will probably go away.

He’s a Rabbi; it would be impossible for him to do anything wrong, right? Jewish people never do anything wrong, right????? Well, anyway, he will be exempt from suffering any consequences, that’s for sure. He better not collect a state pension.

I dont understand the statement “State Police officials said in Freilich’s 16 years on the state payroll they received just two complaints against him. One involved an allegation that Freilich sped through an E-ZPass lane. He was cautioned. The second complaint was filed last year, anonymously, by a person who alleged Freilich uses his official-looking vehicle and State Police placard to park illegally, including in front of his Brooklyn residence.”
Just Google search for Rabbi Bernard Freilich and you will find that he has had plenty of troubles that the state police sould be aware of, especially the witness tampering allegations.

Better watch out what you say about this guy, you could be labelled an anti-semite for even entertaining the idea that he does not deserve his position in the state police, especially in a major publication like this.

#19, #21 – Oh, man, here they come… Look, this is about a rabbi and the abuse of a system. It isn’t about Jews, you morons. Please wait, at least, until the the subject comes up before you let loose. I’m glad we’re not discussing who killed Jesus; you guys would have an infarction. And, no, I’m not Jewish; I just have a functioning brain.

Keep digging, Brendan. This is exactly what a free press is for. You’ll probably find dozens more like him scattered through other state agencies, not to mention the legislative staff. Can’t swing a dead cat in New York without hitting a “special liason.”
Governor – time to walk the talk that got you elected. Get rid of this guy.

#23 first off I’m not an anti-semite, I despise all religions but give everyone a chance unless they’re ranting about religion. Second, if you don’t think this has anything to do with him being Jewish that’s totally wrong considering it’s his ties to the Jewish community that are apparently the most important part of his association with the state police. If he wasn’t Jewish, he wouldn’t be getting paid $100,000/year by the new york state tax payers. If they want a special voice in law enforcement, there’s no reason the tax payers should front the bill.

the anti-semitic comment comes from a very real force in our society-people in show business and journalism who aren’t even the least bit racist have their careers ruined for siding with Palestinians, suggesting that Israel has anything to do with the problems in the middle east, or even mentioning that someone is jewish while disagreeing with their actions or words. this article is no different, and I can almost assure you that today it is being spun around as anti-semitic throughout the jewish communities in new york state.

wow,,,,, sounds like this is like winning a lottery, and yet the state wants to lay off the little people , “FIRE” this scumbag enough of this free ride at the taxpayers expense, the same ones that could get laid off